Australian Philanthropy Top 350

In 2011, FR&C put together a list of over 100 Australian donors (and some non-Australian donors to Australian causes) who have given over $1m. We’ve updated the list on several occasions since – now with over 350 individuals and families listed.We’ve only included people and families whose philanthropy has been mentioned in the public domain – either with a firm figure or with an estimate (we’ve put firm dollars ahead of estimates, even where it’s likely that the estimated figures are under-reported).We’ve provided links to the sources we’ve used for each person’s giving. We’ve drawn on previous published lists and added a lot of information from our Giftsearch database and our own researches. And we’ll revise the list over time – if you have a suggestion for an update, email us.

Myer Family – Over $200m in cumulative giving, $12m+ in total giving in 2014, via the Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund, not counting additional giving by Myer family members via their own foundations and PAFs. Recent giving includes a $10m gift from the Myer Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation, and Martyn and Louise Myer to the University of Melbourne (2013).

Known giving and pledges over $50m

Gates Foundation – over $50m in Australian giving, including $12.4m to UNSW (2008), $9.7m to Murdoch University (2004), $8.7m to George Institute (2007), $5m to Australian International Health Institute (2004), $4.4m to QUT (2009), $2.9m to QUT (2008), $2.9m to Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (2007), $2m to University of Queensland (2008), $2m to ANU (2013), $4m to University of Queensland (2013), $18m to World Vision Australia (2015).​

Miller Family – Established by Noel Miller, the Miller Foundation was one of the founding donors of MCRI. It continues to be a major donor, distributing over $7m each year in 2016 and 2017.

Known giving and pledges over $10m

Margarete (Gretel) Ainsworth – $10m to Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), towards the Margarete Ainsworth Building, new home for the organisation (2013). See also joint gifts with Len Ainsworth to State Library of NSW and WSU in 2018.

Robert Cripps, Thomas Cripps, and family - US$230m in total giving via the Cripps Foundation to 2015. Australian giving includes $5m to Korowa Anglican Girls School, $6.9m to the University of Melbourne, $3.68m to Trinity College, Melbourne, $1.6m to St John's College, University of Queensland, and $5.6m to Caulfield Grammar School.

Sir Michael Hintze – an estimated $35 million in total giving, including a Chair in International Security at the University of Sydney, Dorothy & Michael Hintze sculpture gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and refurbishment of the Vatican's Pauline Chapel. Recent giving includes $1m to Sydney University (2013) and $1m to UNSW (2013).

Peter Farrell – gifts of $1m+ to Harvard, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, San Diego Foundation, UCSD Cardiovascular Centre, along with substantial Australian giving including $1m+ to UNSW from the Farrell Family Foundation.